Two games I got that aren’t Galaxy.

So, its now two days til Galaxy is released and instead of going out and spewing $99AU to get a game after I’ve spent $300 in the last two weeks on Metroid Prime 3 + MUSE merchandise. So to fill the gap (which I doubt I’ll really notice) I have borrowed Final Fantasy XII from my friend as well as Resident Evil 3 – Nemesis from my other friend.

I’m looking forward to putting in some long hours on these two games. And I’ve restarted Fire Emblem 6 – Sword of Seals again. Because Roy is all man.

See you next mission.

3 days til Galaxy. 3 days til greatest game ever? And other stuff.

So the constant debate of “Best Game of All Time” now has a new contender, the newest Mario game nonetheless, Super Mario Galaxy. Now there are a lot of worthy games which could easily snag this title but there are some who are willing to give it to Galaxy. I personally haven’t played the game yet (It comes out in three days and I don’t feel like spending the little amount of cash I have left on it right away) but from what I’ve seen it definitely looks like an exceptional game, there is no doubting that.

However, anyone who can remember the magical feeling of first inserting Ocarina of Time into their Nintendo 64 might have something to say about this.

Now, I’m not one of these people because for me it was the magical feeling of first inserting Super Metroid into my Super Nintendo. But same difference.

One interesting thing I have noticed is that a few of the people claiming Galaxy is the best thing since sliced bread didn’t grow up in the golden days of gaming (ie. Nintendo vs. Sega days) and though I will not say “OMGTHISISWHYTHEYDON’TKNOW!” I will say it might be a contributing factor. Some of them have grown up with gaming being 3D which is why they could be forgiven for not seeing one reason why OoT is so good. And they could be forgiven for not seeing the magic that Super Metroid gave us when we played it for the first time.

These same people often say that Twilight Princess is better than Ocarina of Time, but most of us weathered games know this not to be true. It is merely a buffed up Ocarina clone with a couple of new elements. Where as we can see Galaxy is re-inventing Mario after the stuff-up of Sunshine (which I am writing a review for this weekend).

On another note, finishing Metroid Prime 3 on Veteran was easy… taking on the challenge of Hyper Mode seems a bit steeper, but once again like Echoes its because the enemies dish out for damage and have higher defence not because they actually feature improved A.I. So in that area Retro still has to do some improving but to say I’m getting frustrated with Hyper Mode is fair. Not because I suck at the game, because I have picked up the controls well and have them down now… just the fact that the enemies deal out so much damage and every enemy that can go into Hyper Mode will go into it just to make you use your own Hyper Mode to take them down them *BAM* you are down an Energy Tank (unless your as fast as I became in dealing with enemies in which you are probably down half a tank)

I am borrowing Final Fantasy XII and Metal Gear Solid 2 off of my fellow gamer friend this weekend so that’ll ensure my PS2 gets some game time whilst my grudge for my Wii continues.

Expect my Sunshine review by Sunday and a special review is being done for December 3rd. Until then, I’ll see you all next mission.

If you people were half as manly as Captain Falcon then you’d be as manly as I am.
Rofl.

Prepare to be a-MUSE’d.

NOT GAMING RELATED BLOG!
You were warned.

So, back in January of 2007 a little band I love called MUSE came my way for a tour, needless to say I had tickets by 9am of the sale date and was ready to experience the concert of my lifetime. It was as incredible as I had hoped, but never did I think I’d get a repeat of such an event.

Then comes August and I wake up to my local radio station, Triple J, and suddenly they receive a phone call. And who is it you ask? None other than the almighty Matthew Bellamy. And why was he calling them you ask? To let them know that MUSE would be coming down under for the second time in one year throughout early November to rock us with their Wembley set. Needless to say I was shocked, I called each of my fellow MUSE fans to inform and we had our Gold Mosh Pit tickets as soon as presale started.

That was several months ago, and now the time for hype has come. Tomorrow night at 7.30pm (+11 hours GMT) I will be listening in awe as MUSE provide my ears with many beautiful sounds.

Now the fun part comes, speculating the SET LIST.

This was Perth’s SET LIST:

Take a Bow
Map of the Problematique
New Born
Butterflies & Hurricanes
Apocalypse Please
Supermassive Blackholes
Sunburn
Citizen Erased
Soldiers Poem
Invincible
Fury
Starlight
Hysteria
Time Is Running Out
Stockholm Syndrome

Plug In Baby
Knights of Cydonia

Most interesting thing to point out is the fact they played Fury. I’m going to do some MUSE research then post up the set list I think I’ll be listening to tomorrow night.

MUSETASTIC!

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Review

So here we are at the end of an outstanding trilogy in an outstanding franchise (no… not Zelda). Hop in the Varia Suit and kick some more Space Pirate butt as Samus Aran steps up to the final stage in eliminating Phazon, destroying Metroid Prime (a.k.a Dark Samus) and bringing peace to the galaxy along the way. It’s going to be a bumpy ride, so please ensure that you are strapped in safely.

The game starts you off six months after the events of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and things seemed to be improving. Not until an old foe reappears in the form of Dark Samus and tricks the Space Pirates into an alliance against the Galactic Federation so she can take all the Phazon for herself while her silly pawns distract the GF and Samus Aran. What follows are twists and turns with new and old faces appearing here and there, more so new rather than old. We have new planets, new mission and a new style of suit to boot. It’s time for us to begin the final chapter that will end with a Samus vs. Dark Samus showdown. Let us begin.

Read the full review here.

Eve of Corruption – Super Metroid Reviewed

Its 1994 the Super Nintendo’s greatest game was released this game is Super Metroid. I will review it now in honor of Metroid Prime 3 launching down-under tomorrow morning at 9am. So let us skip the crap and dive into a review of one of the greatest games to grace our home consoles.

In the days of Super Mario World and A Link To The Past, who would have thought a seldom-visited franchise would be the one who topped them. Bringing the entire planet of Zebes to life in brilliant, colourful graphics for its time. Not one of the areas presented to us in this game was bland in any way; quite simply it is some of Nintendo’s greatest pieces of works. Two stand out areas are Norfair and Maridia, ironically both contrasting areas. One is set in the fiery depths of Zebes, and the other can only be truly explored after destroying a glass walkway to journey into the mysterious aquatic depths.

To describe the sort of atmosphere the visuals create I shall refer to Samus’ first moments on her second trip to Zebes. Upon exiting her gunship she is met by a seemingly dead planet. Mist fills the air inside and outside rain pelts down on her as she moves around. And it isn’t until you complete your first task (which I won’t spoil in case you haven’t played the game… its pretty easy) and then suddenly everything is bought to life, rooms are now full of enemies, traps have appeared. And suddenly Samus isn’t alone, but she also has no allies. And the SNES quality visuals truly create an atmosphere very unique to this masterpiece of a game.

Read the full review here.

M-Day.

Well, in roughly twelve hours I’ll have Metroid Prime 3 in my hands and it’ll be begging me to play it. And I’m not one to say “no” to the Wii’s best game now am I?

The game was out tonight, but I was unable to afford it due to my money not coming in til tomorrow morning… curses.

See you soon for a logbook of my progress.

The Casual Cancer

I’m sure you Nintendo fans have seen Nintendo America’s Super Mario Galaxy commercial, and need we point out that it is once again directed at the damned casual audience. Now having said that, there is no doubt that Mario can be aimed at the casual audience, because that is the plumber’s task… to bring in gamers of all ages. But why did they screw over Metroid Prime 3 with such a dodgy casual commercial? It really is becoming quite frustrating.

Just recently I learned that both Nintendogs and Brain Training may have sold more than Metroid. And quite frankly if that is true then that is disgusting. How can an awesome, mature, hardcore franchise like Metroid be outsold by pissy little 10 minute games that can only entertain people not hardcore enough to get into … oh… I dunno REAL GAMES! If you’re going to be a gamer, then be a god damned gamer. Don’t hide behind this casual gamer facade, it’s irritating.

So let it be said here, I am sick of casual gamers. To me, you’re either a real gamer or your not a gamer at all anymore… there is no middle-ground. Casual gamers are a cancer on our great gaming world, they are slowly eating away at it, killing it off. And we shouldn’t stand for it anymore.

Oh and keep your eyes out next year, I bet the Brawl commercial is directed at casual gamers to. And keep in mind that if it happens, I fucking called it.

Month of Mario Special – Super Mario 64 Reviewed.

So, we are only weeks away from Mario’s next big game and unless you’ve been living under a rock you have no doubt heard about it. Super Mario Galaxy is promising to be a worthy successor to the awe-inspiring game that is Super Mario 64, which is the game I will be reviewing today. Mario 64 is the game that truly bought the gaming world into the third dimension. It had everything a great 3-D platformer could ask for: a ton of worlds, and plenty of long-lived fun to be had.

When you first popped this baby in your N64, you were greeted with colours and a lot of them at that. The visuals that are featured in Mario 64 are purely groundbreaking for its time. You may look on it now and shrug your shoulders but when you first got the game you have to admit you were blown away. From the aquatic environment of Wet Dry World to the dark and moody environment of Bowser in the Dark World, each area presented a unique style that really amazed my eyes. In it’s day there was really no competition that could beat what Mario 64 had done visually, it gave us everything we wanted from a game. As soon as you start the game you are treated to a wide open yard in front of Princess Peach’s massive castle, whom Mario has of course come to visit… no doubt because of the promise of cake. And upon arriving you find out the one and only Bowser has taken Peach hostage and scattered 120 Stars throughout its rooms, turning worlds in paintings that Mario must leap headfirst into and explore.

Read the full review here.